Window to Paris [1993]

Abstract

“Window to Paris” is truly a people's film that stands true to represent human qualities and habits. The dramatic side to “Window to Paris”, as can be exemplified in the form of the urge of Russians for escapism, in combination of humor and laughter adds a unique touch of beauty to the film that follows laughter through tears in its folds. The film surely has an ever-lasting impact on its viewers, and gives them a very worthy experience to cherish.

Window to Paris [1993]

Introduction to Film

The film “Window to Paris” (1993) is a very successful production of the director Yuri Mamin that has a deep meaning. The film is indeed hilarious; but portrays certain human realities that closely connect to the actual human behaviors. This film mainly discusses the cultures of the Russian and Persia while describing the humanity of all its characters. The film shows the stereotypes about these cultures so that the viewer knows what happens to these characters in the film, while developing a strong connection with reality itself (Maslin, 1995).

Interpretation of Film in Support of Research

In this film “Window to Paris” (1993), the main character is that of a musical teacher, Nikolai. The teacher, after being fired from his only employment, moves to a well-furnished apartment building at St. Petersburg. It was the sight of a cat appearing very mysteriously that the tenants of the apartment discovers that there lies a hidden window in Nikolai's room that can transport anyone to Paris very magically. This comes as an utter shock to everyone in the film, and takes the viewer's attention in a very strong grip. After a while, Nikolai finds himself to be in Paris by passing through the same window.

The beginning scenes of the film are very attention-gripping since they portray famous sites of Paris in a very interesting manner. The sketches shown in the very beginning takes on viewers' interest as he keeps on guessing which part of the film will connect the viewer to real Paris. It gives a very pleasant feeling to the eye, since it portrays the softer side of Paris which is filled with colors and hues of harmony and well-being. The last scene showcases the carnival at St. Petersburg, Russia. Here it is shown that a band is playing good music, while the crowd is jumping on a trampoline along with showing some usual fights in the queue for Vodka. The glimpses of the country take on an even more extremist turn when these rioters gather along and started marching with the band to the tunes of “The Internationale”. The rest of this film is pictured in similar manner, and Mamin does not leave any chance to portray the culture-based stereotypes of Russia that he could easily observe and represent. One of the movie's popular quotes is where Nikolai Chizhov addresses the businessmen of the lyceum:

“You used to raise builders of communism, now you are raising builders of capitalism, but the product remains the ...